title: Early healing and hearing improvement following type one tympanoplasty using the 'drum sandwich' technique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The results of a number of tympanic membrane perforation closure techniques have been reported. However, relatively little has been published on the 'drum sandwich' technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review of 123 patients undergoing type one tympanoplasty, performed by one surgeon using the drum sandwich technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-two per cent of perforations were successfully closed, and 87 per cent of patients had healed ears and were free from aural discharge 6 weeks following surgery. Post-operative hearing data were only available for 81 ears. Of these, 58 per cent had closure of the air-bone gap to within 10 dB. The mean hearing gain for the group was 10.6 dB.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The drum sandwich technique produces rapid healing of the ear with acceptable hearing outcomes. Drum closure rates are comparable with those reported for other techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Khon-kaen Hospital, Thailand.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mills
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D012048:Correction of Hearing Impairment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D018058:Tympanic Membrane Perforation / Q000601:surgery; D014433:Tympanoplasty / Q000379:methods* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014945:Wound Healing; D055815:Young Adult